Hernia-support.



F. J. STUART. HBRNIA SUPPORT. APPLICATION IIIIIED 8EPT..17, 1907.

Patented Am. 6, 1909.

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lUNlThZD STATES FRANK J. STUART, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

HERNIA-SUPPOBT.

Application filed September 17, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, FRANK J. S'LUART, a citizen of the United States, residim, at St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis @ity and State of Missouri, nave invented new and useful improvements in Hernia-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in hernia supports, comprehending particularly a support adapted to be used alone or in com.- bination with a truss and to adhere to the person, thus obviating the use of straps or other fastenings of an insecure nature and any possibility of the support slipping in use.

Que of the objects of the invention is to prrwidc a pad-supporting strip provided upon its inner face with adhesive material, thus adapting it to stick to the skin and to be thereby effectually secured in position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting strip of this character havint an enlarged portion to overlie the hernia and provided with an elastic pad forming a reservoir for medicament, whereby the hernia will not only be supported by an easy, yielding pressure but a. vehicle provided to keep a suitable remedial agent in contact with the part so that the medicament may be absorbed through the pores of the skin down to the deep-seated ruptured tissues, thus healing and relieving the parts of pain.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of means for securing the pad to the strip and preventing undue compression thereof.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the support. Fig. 2 is a cross section through the enlarged portion thereof on the central line of the pad. Fig. 3 is a view showing the application of the invention.

The support comprises a flexible strip 1, formed of a textile fabric or other suitable material, said strip being provided upon its inner or rear side with a layer or coating of adhesive material 2, whereby it is adapted to stick to the skin, thus obviating the use of straps and other insecure fasteninpgs and slipping of the device while in use. Adjacent one end the strip is formed with opposite segmental enlargements projecting beyond eacl'i of its longitudinal edges to form, with the in- Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedApril 6, 1909.

Serial No. 393,311.

tervening part of the strip, a circular portion 3 designed to overlie the hernia and form an enlarged support for an elastic hermal pad the enlarged portion giving; an increased of adhesive surface over and around the ruptured part to prevent shifting of the pad. By this construction the ends of the strip separated by said circular portion form long; and short ataching arms or webs 3 and 3 adapting the support to be applied and supported in a novel and effective manner upon the person, as hereinafter described. 'lhe pad is a novel construction and is designed to serve not only the purpose of an elastic support, but also the purpose of a reservoir or vehicle for a siilitable medicament adapted to allay and exert a healing action on the ruptured tissues. As shown, the pad consists of a ball or oval-shaped hollow elastic or non.- elastic body, which is in practice preferably formed of rubber, and is provided in its convex bearing; face with an opening 5 for the escape of the medicament under pi sure then-:from. At its front side diametrically opposite the opening 5 the pad is closed by a backing plate 6, preferably of metal or fiber board, said plate being secured in position upon the strip by a rivet or other suitable fastening device 7 and the body is suitably secured to the plate. In the construction shown, the plate 6 is circular in form and of somewhat greater diameter than the open side of the pad, which is provided with an outwardly extending flange 8, said flange and the edge of the plate 6 being received within a channeled ring or holder clamping them firmly together.

In practice, the strip is applied to the body as shown in Fig. 3 with the enlarged portion 3 overlying the hernia at the groin and the pad. 4: arranged to exert a direct yielding pressure thereon, while the attaching webs or arms 3 and 3 respectively extend above and below the hernia, the short arm 3 being secured by its adhesive material to the abdomen between the hernia and the genital organ, while the long arm 3 is secured by its adhesive material to the abdomen between the hernia and the hip at the adjacent side of the body, with the free end of said arm turned back over the point of the hip bone and secured to the skin over and in rear of such portion of said bone. The pad is filled prior to application with a medicament of the character described, which escapes under pressure through the outlet opening 5 and is thus brought into contact with the surface 1 serves to close the open side of the of the skin around the injured parts. As a result, the constant retention of the pad in position causes the medicament to be taken up and absorbed by the pores and conducted to the ruptured tissues, thus healing and relieving the parts of pain.

By the described construction of the support and manner of applying the same, it will be seen that the pad-carrying enlargement 3 will be arranged to directly overlie and cover the hernia and that the adhesive surface of the strip will firmly retain the same in position. The purpose of employing the short arm or attaching portion 3" is to secure the support below the hernia and thus increase the holding action of the sup port to prevent liability of shifting of the pad, without bringing such attaching portion into too close proximity to the genital organ, while the purpose of making the arm or attaching portion 3 of greater length is to increase the holding surface in like manner above the hernia and to enable the support to be secured to the body above and around the point of the hip-bone, from which the device is thus firmly and securely supported to retain the hernia in position. This mode of supporting the device from a fixed part of the frame of the body is an important feature of my invention, as it enables a support of this type to be effectually employed, while the simple surface attachment of the support to the abdomen would, for obvious reasons, render such a support inoperative.

It will accordingly be seen that the invention provides a very simple form of support which will not only hold the hernia in place, but also supply a soothing and healing inedicinal remedy thereto. The construction of the pad holding device or frame comprising the plate 6 and clamping ring 9 gives the desired rigidity at the point of connection of the pad with the strip, while the plate also pad and to prevent the same from being forced by undue compression into the ring.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. As a new article of manufacture, a

hernia support comprising a fabric strip having opposite lateral extensions adjacent one of its ends and formmg, wlth the intervening part of the strip, an enlarged portion,

the ends of the strip separated by said en" larged portion being unequal in length and forming attaching webs, the longer web being adapted to be secured to the person over the hip-hone to sustain the support therefrom, and a pad carried by said enlarged portion and projecting from one of the faces of the strip, the said face of the strip being provided with a coating of adhesive material along the entire length thereof including said enlarged portion and extending on the latter completely around the pad.

2. A hernia support comprising an elongated strip enlarged adjacent one end and coated upon one of its faces with adhesive material, a medicament-carrying hernia-pad comprising a hollow body open at its base and provided in its crown with a medica ment outlet, the basal edge of said pad being outturned to form a flange, a backing plate centrally secured upon the adhesive face of the enlarged portion of the strip, and a channeled coupling ring receiving the flange of the pad and edge of the backing plate and clamping the same together, said plate being thereby arranged to cover and close the open base of the pad.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK rsrnan'r.

WVitnesses ELEANOR Rosn l/V ALTER, L. G. HORTON. 

